
ARTYRED ARMENIA. 



A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE 
RECENT HORRIBLE 



Massacres 



'he Christian Armenians 



...IN... 



Turkey. 



WITH A FUIyl, EXPI^ANATION OF THEIR REMOTE AND 

IMMEDIATE CAUSES, SEEN THROUGH THE APATHY 

OF THE POWERS, AND A PI,EA FOR HEIvP 



REV. S. S. YKNOVKIAN, 

AN ARMENIAN REFUGEE. 



1896. 



^' 



MARTYRED ARMENIA. 



A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE 
RECENT HORRIBLE 



Massacres 



...OF. 



The Christian Armenians 



Turkey. 



WITH A FUI,Iv EXPIvANATION OF THEJIR REMOTE AND 
IMMEDIATE CAUvSES, SEEN THROUGH THE APATHY 

OF THE POWERvS, AND A PI^EA FOR HElv'Pj ^ ^0/^,,^-. 

-By- ^ ' ''^ 

V' 

REV. S. S. YENOVKIAN, 

AN ARMENIAN REFUGEE. 




1896. 



6.c(r ^ 



THE BRIXTON PTQ. CO., -.5 bnERIFF ST., CLEVELANOj O, 



][jedicated. 



To tlie most sacred memories of my dear 
ones, brothers, relatives and scores of friends^ 
who perished in the company of those one 
hundred thousand Armenian martyrs, that 
were massacred in defense of their faith in 
Christy by the diabolical orders of the Sultan 
Hamid II. of Turkey^ and by the 7nost cruel 
hands of Islam BEFORE THE EYES OF THE 
WHOLE Christian world, at the close of 

THE NINETEENTH CENTURY. 

S. S. YENOVKIAN, 

Cleveland, Ohio. 
January 21st, 1896. 






AI.I. RIGHTS RESERVED. 



Martyred Armenia. 

On your last Thanksgiving Day, all over this 
country, thousands of preachers and pastors, with cheer- 
ful faces, stood before their congregations and rehearsed 
your national blessings. Yea, the whole nation, 
proudly and justly, sang the sacred song, " Happy Is 
the Nation, Whose God Is the Lord." 

Unquestionably, happiness and piety are closely 
connected, one with another. But the mere happiness 
and prosperity of a nation cannot be taken for an infalli- 
ble sign — that the nation is God's people. Nor does the 
affliction of a nation always betoken that the nation is 
wicked. There are many ungodly people in this world 
who are happy, and also many devout races which are 
sorely afflicted. Such is the case with the afflicted 
Armenians. In the history of the Church, very few 
nations have been found so loyal to their Heavenly 
Master as the people of Armenia, and yet no other people 
upon the face of the earth have suffered as much as the 
Armenians. Before any other nation could venture to 
accept Christianity as their State religion, the Armenians 
proclaimed themselves, in a body, a Christian nation. 
And so they gained the distinctive honor, ' ' The First 
Christian Nation." Throughout a period of sixteen 
centuries they have born the standard of their Commander 
through all kinds of persecutions , religious wars and firey 
martyrdoms, safe and undefiled. And now, in our own 
days, the whole nation, cross in hand and the Master's 
sacred standard unfurled over her head, is brought to the 
verge of extermination, by the greatest enemy of the 
Church of God. The assassin, the murderer, with a grim 
smile is scorning the whole of Christendom, and greatly 
emboldened by the supine indifference of the so-called 
Christian powers, with an increasing ruthlessness, is con- 
tinuing in his inhuman carnage and butchery. It seems 
to us as if the whole of Christendom is dumb and wonder- 
struck, and is not able to understand the riddle, or to pene- 
trate to the mysterious depth of the silence of the Chris- 
tian powers. 

It is under such appalling circumstances that the 
martyr, with all her armies of saints, composed of men 
and women of every calling, bearing their dear ones in 



their arms, is calmly and composedly marching to the 
verge of extermination before the eyes of the whole Chris- 
tian world. With all her followers she is ready to forgive 
her enemies, her most brutal executioners. But, like 
her Heavenly Master, she cannot close her saintly lips, 
without repeating to the ears of the Christian Europe, 
*' Friend betray est thou the daughter of Armenia with a 
kiss?" 

Grief stricken with the incessant news of unparalleled 
massacres, despairing of seeing alive my dear little ones, 
relatives and hundreds of friends, I deemed it my solemn 
duty to interpret the last words of my martyred people, 
and make an earnest plea for the small remnant which 
can be saved yet. 

Since the terrible news of the recent massacres began 
to be published in the newspapers of this country, every- 
where, the people are asking, "Why are not the Christian 
governments of Europe stepping in and making an 
end to such awful slaughters? " Many attempts have 
been made through the press to explain, and even to 
vindicate, the gross indifference and apathy of the powers. 
Some have tried to explain by saying, "The newspaper 
reports are too much exaggerated, and hence the indiffer- 
ence of the powers." Others have said, "The jealousy 
of the powers toward each other's welfare is the only cause 
of their inactivity." Still others have tried to vindicate 
such a supine apathy by saying, " The peace of the whole 
of Europe, and the safety of the whole Christian world re- 
quires a very careful and cautious policy. The powers 
have a definite understanding among themselves for the 
dismemberment of the Ottoman Empire, but in order not 
to arouse the fanaticism of the whole Mohammedan 
world, they are acting very quietly and deliberately, which 
policy seems to us as if an apathy." And still a few who 
are not well acquainted with the most diabolical character 
and fiendish a ms of the Sultan and his admirers, have 
resorted, into a very queer explanation by saying, "The 
Sultan and his ministers have nothing to do with these 
horrible massacres. They have not been planned by the 
Turkish government. They are simply the works of those 
fanatic Moslems in the provinces and the Sultan is utter- 
ly unable to suppress these awful carnages. The powers 
know this, therefore they are not blaming the Turkish 



government, or cannot enforce the Sultan to do that 
which they know he is utterly unable to do." 

All these attempts to explain and vindicate the in- 
activity of European governments have proved to be 
utterly void and futile, and still the question, " Why 
powers are not stopping this carnage?" remains unan- 
answered in the minds of the public, who are not well ac- 
quainted with the real secrets of the so-called "Eastern 
question." 

If we desire to know the real causes of the indiffer- 
ence of the powers, we must have a brief review of the 
history of the massacres of the Christian races in Turkey. 
It is a well-knowQ fact that in the history of that country, 
from time to time, the followers of Mohammed have 
ruthlessly butchered thousands f f Christians. Within 
the last thirty five years alone, besides hundreds of com- 
paratively small massacres, three great massacres have 
occurred by the express orders of the sultans themselves. 

The first of these great slaughters occurred in 1860, at 
Mount Lebanan, in Syria, in which 10,000 Maronite 
Catholic Christians were butchered in cold blood by the 
Druses. The second great massacre, more terrible than 
the first, occurred in 1876, in Bulgaria. According to 
the most reliable authorities more than 15,000 Bulgarian 
Greek Christians were ruthlessly slaughtered. 

The last massacre began in 1894, in the first part of 
September, and up to the present time more than 75,000 
Armenian Christians, composed chiefly of helpless 
women and children, have been butchered with un- 
paralleled cruelty and unspeakable lust. The nation has 
already lost more than half of their whole wealth, and more 
than 500,000 helpless men, women and children, without 
homes and clothing, are starving to death in the moun- 
tains of Asia Minor. And what is more than all these, 
every rising day increases the roll of martyra by hundreds 
and thousands, and it seems that the unspeakable Turk 
will never stop his inhuman butchery, until the whole na- 
tion is exterminated. It is in the presence of the most 
powerful Christian governments, yea, under the very guns 
of their most formidable navies, that all these barbarisms 
are perpetrated upon the most defenceless Christian nation 
in the world. No wonder that the whole civilized world 



is repeatedly asking * * Why the powers are not stepping 
in and making an end to such a fearful carnage? " 

Here is the true answer of this most pressing and 
urgent question: Because the Armenians Jmve no co- 
religionist among the European powers. 

The massacre of the Maronite Catholics occurred sud- 
denly and unexpectedly. But no sooner did it happen than 
Catholic France, the coreligionist of the victims, stepped 
in, and with a single blow, not only stopped its spreading, 
but also punished the chief leaders of that fearful 
bloodshed. 

The Bulgarian massacre also came without warning. 
But, as soon as it occurred, Russia, the recognized 
champion of the Greek Church, prepared itself for a re- 
ligious war against the Turks, and with great sacrifices 
avenged the blood of 20,000 Bulgarian Greek Christians. 

But who cares for the Armenians, who have a church 
distinctly of their own, and have no coreligionist among 
the European powers ? In short, they are neither 
Catholics nor Greeks, but simply Christians. The 
heathen Turk knows this fact well, and, therefore, with 
relentless fury he continues in his unchecked carnage. 

But, this is not all. There is something more in the 
inactivity of Russia and France, which is baser and more 
heinous than the mere selfish sectarianism. For many 
centuries the Greek Church, through her Greek and 
Russian emperors, has tried to induce the whole Armenian 
Church to join her own, but Armenia has repeatedly de- 
clined such an offer. The Popes of Rome also, at various 
times, have made desperate attempts to regain the Armen- 
ians into their sacred fold without success. 

Some sixty or seventy years ago, when the American 
missionaries went to Turkey, the Armenians, before and 
above all other nations, heartily welcomed the mission- 
aries and showed a marked tendency toward the evangelical 
doctrines. 

Russia and France, within the last twenty or twenty- 
five years, have increased their efforts to induce the 
Armenian Church to join their respective churches by 
offering her their powerful protection against Turkish 
oppression. The Armenians deliberately and repeatedly 
have refused their offers, aad as a whole the Gregorian 
Armenians have inclined to Protestant doctrines more 



than any other church in the East. This fact has in- 
creased the fear of E-ussia concerning the probable pre- 
dominance, in the future, of English prestige among the 
Armenians. Therefore, in order to prevent such an in- 
crsase of English prestege in the East, Russia has resorted 
lately to a most diabolical scheme, by which she aimed, 
not only to the destruction of the Protestant missionary 
work in Turkey, but also at the conversion of the whole 
Armenian Church to her so-called Orthodox Church. 
According to this diabolical scheme, she sent secret 
agents to the cities of Asia Minor, with express orders to 
organize secret revolutionary societies in the principal 
cities, where American missionaries have established col- 
leges and seminaries, and disturb the peace of the people 
in such a way, that the Turkish government may suspect 
the American missionaries as the real authors of the dis- 
turbances, ihis scheme failed in some localities, but in 
several cities it worked well, and the suspicions of the 
government were aroused against the missionaries. 

Russia, who was quietly waiting for this opportunity, 
without a moment's delay, stealthly slipped behind the 
Turk and began to whisper, "You see those American 
missionaries? .They are the real authors of those move- 
ments. You must get rid of them.'^ 

The Turk, already greatly alarmed by the mighty 
success of the American missionaries in his domain, 
eagerly listened to the intrigues of Russia against the 
missionaries, and began in every possible way to restrict 
their privileges and to check their success. It would fill 
many volumes to give a perfect idea of the means and 
schemes by which the Porte has hampered our missionary 
wurk within the last fifteen years. 

But those secret societies, of Russian origin, had 
another, and perhaps greater, end to accomplish. It was 
this, to stir up the peace of the people everywhere and 
cause confusion. In this also, it is claimed, they suc- 
ceeded fairly well. 

The Turk, too glad to find such a pretext, began to 
slaughter the Armenians. Russia and France, both of 
whom were perfectly aware of the coming of these awful 
events, not only did not prevent their coming and spread- 
ing after the carnage commenced, but with all their 
secret intrigues they carefully fanned the awful fire of 



the persecution, with the expectation that the helpless 
Armenians would throw themselves into the bosom of 
their respective churches. While England, who cares 
very little for such sectarianism , being entirely absorbed 
by her selfish interests in the east, and caring very little 
to do anything for a nation, who will not add any silver 
or gold to her treasury, shamefully and deliberately deliv- 
ered the helpless Armenians into the hands of the heathen, 
Turk. It is such shameful sectarianism and heinous sel- 
fishness that has tied the hands and feet of the so-called 
Christian powers. Here we do find the true explanation 
of the bitter reproach of the Daughter of Armenia, She is 
betrayed into the hands of the unspeakable Turk by the so 
called Christian powers, bhe knows this well, and for 
this very reason she is prefering a martyr's death to a 
shameful life. Shame to the civilization of this nine- 
teenth century that is permitting such christian barbarism. 
Shame to those so-called christian kings, queens and em- 
perors, who are acting like heathens. Shame to the 
Christendom that does not raise her voice against her own 
tyrants. 

It was such ignoble sectarianism of the early Oriental 
Churches that gave birth to Mohammedanism. It was 
the base jealousies of the Latin and Greek Churches that 
strengthened the shaky pillars of the false religion. And 
now in our own days it is the same old despicable and ig- 
nominious sectarianism of the so-called Christian powers, 
that is supporting the greatest enemy of God and men. 

In the future the powers may be forced to change 
their shameful policy, and may try to do something for 
the helpless Armenian. But no change of policy can ex- 
piate the most awful and heinous crimes that have been 
commited, premeditatedly and deliberately. History will 
record their shame, and the coming generations shall 
justly condemn their vile and base sectarianism. These 
facts were concealed from the civilized world, but most 
recently they are coming into light one after another. 

Bearing in mind the true explanation of the inac- 
tivity of the powers, let us visit merely in imagination, 
at least some of the scenes of those recent awful massacres. 

We will begin our sad and mournful journey by as- 
cending Mount Ararat, upon which once the Ark of Noah 
rested. 



We are now in the summer of 1894. All nature is 
smiling around us. The site of the Garden of Eden is 
not very far from us. If we turn our eyes toward the 
south we see a mountainous country called the District of 
Sassoun. Many Armenian villages are scattered all over 
that part of Armenia, but on account of the incessant 
raids of surrounding savage Kurds, they are all poverty- 
stricken and gloomy habitations. These savages have 
been organized by the Turkish government and are sup- 
plied with arms and ammunition, with the express order 
from the Sultan to rob, plunder and kill the Armenians, 
and so either exterminate them or convert them to Mo- 
hammedanism. Nearly all these villagers are poor, half 
naked and destitute. By occupation , being farmers or 
shepherds, their cattle and crops are exposed to the plun- 
ders and raids of those savage Kurds, who are just at this 
time of the year swarming over the country. Therefore, 
for mutual protection the inhabitants of several Armenian 
villiages have come together and are feeding their cattle 
on one of the hills not very far from a city called Moush. 
Oneday, while they were pasturing their flocks, a band 
of savage Kurds attacked them. The Armenian shepherds 
defend themselves bravely, and in the fight two of the 
attacting Kurds are killed. The friends of the Kurds 
take the corpses to Moush, and declare that the Armenians 
have overrun the country, and are killing and plundering 
right and left. The local government of Moush informs 
the Porte of the alleged uprising of the Armenians. The 
Porte, too glad to find such a pretext to exterminate the 
Armenians of the Sossoun District, at once gives orders to 
the military commander of that province — ' 'Exterminate 
the Kebels." . 

Then commences the massing of the troops to the 
number of 8,000. Within a short time they surround 
those supposed 4,000 rebels, the majority of whom are 
women and children. Without any call to surrender they 
begin a fearful carnage, and do not stop their inhuman 
butchery until the last man and the last woman, yea even 
the last suckling infant, has duly paid for his or her re- 
bellion. 

But the blood thirsty soldiers and Kurds are not sat- 
isfied with this. They want more plunder, more carnage. 
Therefore they begin to attack the surrounding Armenian 



villages and towns, whose inhabitants had nothing to do 
with the death of those two robber Kurds. In vain the 
villagers declare their innocence. In vain they beg for 
mercy. The fiendish Kurds and soldiers will not listen to 
any amount of entreaty and pitiful cries. Therefore the 
defenceless and utterly helpless villagers must yield to 
their horrible and dreadful dooms. 

Now commences the most awful tragedy of the age; 
the most ruthless butchery of all inhuman butcheries. 
Hundreds of families perish in the flames of iheir dear 
homes. Many mothers are impaled on the same weapon 
with their dear suckling ones. Many fathers are butch- 
ered in the presence of their dear darlings, and many in- 
fants are dashed against the rocks in the presence of their 
frantic fathers and mothers. And what is more than all 
these, many young brides are outraged in the presence of 
their young husbands, and many saintly young ladies are 
violated before the eyes of their mothers, who frantically 
fought for the protection of the honor of their 
daughters, and are now bleeding to death. For many 
days these unparalleled deeds of inhuman butcheries 
and lust progress from one village to another, till 47 vil- 
lages with their 10,000 inhabitants are exterminated. 

O, Earth, cover not thou the blood of those 10,000 
martyrs. O, Heaven, do not forget the inhuman betrayal 
of the Christian powers. 

When the commander of this inhuman army of 
butchers was perfectly satisfied that all the rebels were ex- 
terminated, he telegraphed to the Sultan saying "Thy will 
is accomplished ," The Sultan, well satisfied with the 
services of his faithful servants, rewarded him with first 
class military decoration. 

With an unparalleled secrecy, the news of these 
awful deeds were kept from the civilized world fully fifty 
days. But at the end of that fifty days the grim news of 
these fearful butcheries, rapine and lust, began to come 
to light, through letters written by the American mission- 
aries in Turkey. The whole of the civilized world was 
shocked once more at the fiendish deeds of the unspeak- 
able Turk. The lying Turk, as usual, denied all of these 
brutalities, saying, ''There was nothing of that sort, no 
killing of women or children, only 500 or 600 rebels, who 

lO 



had rebelled against our 'kind and fatherly' authorities, 
were justly punished for their deliberate rebellion." 

To this effect he tried to buy some newspapers, not 
only in Europe, but also in the United States. It is 
claimed that the unspeakable Turk partially succeeded, 
too, in this base scheme, but the sentiment of the Chris- 
tian world was too strong to be suppressed by such false 
declarations, and consequently the powers were forced to 
demand an investigation of the facts. For a long time 
the arch fiend, the Sultan, resisted this demand by var- 
ious pretexts, but the powers insisted in their demands, 
and so, after two or three months' delay, the Porte was 
forced to appoint a commission to investigate the Sassoun 
massacres. 

The Turkish government prompted by the supine 
foreign policy of this goveriiment in Turkey, also requested 
President Cleveland to appoint a delegate to that com- 
mission. The president refused such an offer, but the 
Turk renewed his request in such flattering terms that the 
Chief Executive of this nation consented to appoint a 
delegate to make an independent investigation in Sassoun. 
But, no sooner was this appointment made known to the 
Porte than the Sultan recollecting the most damaging 
proofs that were brought into light through such an inde- 
pendent investigation made by the American Legation at 
Constantinople, during the investigation of the Bulgarian 
massacre in 1876, promptly refused such an appointment. 
The President, without further attempt, ended this diplo- 
matic etiquette and so the Sultan as well as the President, 
both were equally glad to quit courting each other. It 
was a flagrant blunder on the part of this government to 
let slip such an opportunity to correct the Turk. 

While these diplomatic contests were going on in the 
capital, the local authorities of the Sassoun were doing all 
that was possible for them to do, in order to obliterate 
the signs of those awful slaughters. Many Armenians 
were imprisoned, or sent to exile in order that they might 
not be able to testify. Hundreds of corpses were burned 
by coal oil. Many more were thrown into dry wells and 
covered with earth, while the snows of the most severe 
winter came and thousands of unburied victims were 
temporarily buried under five or six feet of snow. 

But it was absolutely impossible to hide all the signs 



II 



of such, fearful butcheries. Therefore the commission, 
after being hampered all the way through with many- 
difficulties and obstacles, which were thrown into its 
course of investigation by the local authorities, was at last 
able to procure ample proofs which fully confirmed all 
the newspaper reports. 

Soon after the completion of the investigation, the 
delegates communicated their reports' to their respective 
governments, and so after some deliberation the powers, 
apparently in full concert, (but God alone knows how 
much disconcert existed among themselves), proposed to 
the Sultan to inaugurate some important reforms, in 
Armenia and all over Asiatic provinces. With various 
pretexts the Porte refused this proposition, but the powers 
insisted in it on the ground that the Porte, in the Berlin 
conference, had agreed to such are form, and had signed 
the Articles 61 and 62 of the Berlin treaty, as an express 
promise, to protect the lives and the properties of the 
the Armenians against all savages, and especially against 
the Kurds. 

When the Porte saw that it was cornered by the 
Berlin treaty, he began to play a very old familiar politi- 
cal tune, which is well known to the civilized world as 
^'The Balance of Power." No sooner did this charming 
music strike their ears than the powers began to dance 
their old political dances, and soon the Armenian question 
with all its fearful aspects, was forgotten, and the Turk 
was once more victorious, by playing one power against 
another. 

In the meantime the distress among the Armenian 
population became simply unbearable. Everywhere they 
were assaulted, beaten, imprisoned, tortured and ruth- 
lessly murdered, while more than half of the wealth of 
the nation was taken away from them and given to the 
Mohammedan population with various pretexts and 
extortions. 

The incessant news of these awful distresses in the 
provinces, the sluggish and apathetic policy of the powers 
and the scornful defiance of the unspeakable Turk before 
the whole Christian world, all of these gloomy circum- 
stances, combined together, caused the Armenian popula- 
tion of Constantinople to despair and to resort into a des- 



12 



perate attempt to petition the Sultan, the arch enemy 
himself, through the Grand Vizier. 

It was on the first day of last October, when several 
hundred Armenians of the capital, in a body, marched to- 
ward the palace of the Porte, professedly to petition the 
Sultan . The arrival of the Armenians at the palace was the 
signal of desperate encounters. The police fired upon the 
Armenians. They tried to defend themselves as best they 
could. In the fight many Armenians and a few Turks 
were killed. Soon the fanatical softas of the capital 
armed themselves, and began to massacre the Armenians 
on the streets, before the very eyes of the Am- 
bassadors of the powers. Three days this carnage con- 
tinued without any attempt to check it. During this time, 
hundreds were killed, many of them being smashed into a 
pulp by the police after they had been wounded and taken 
into the police quarters. No doubt this was done by the 
instructions of the Sultan himself. 

The news of the slaughter of the Christians at the 
Capital spread with alarming rapidity into the provinces 
of Asia Minor, and within a few days, all over the Em- 
pire, the fire of the Mohammedan fanaticism began to 
burn with an unparalleled fury, but no general upris- 
ing occurred in the provinces for several days. This was 
due to an old Mohammedan law, which requires a formal 
sanction of the Shiekh ul Islam, or the firman of the 
Sultan, before a wholesale butchery of Christian subjects 
is commenced. The Turks waited for orders from the 
Capital, and it was not long before they arrived into 
the cities of Asia Minor from the Yildiz palace of the 
Sultan, Hamidll., the incarnate devil. 

The first effect of the Armenian movements in the 
Capital was a great consternation and alarm at the palace 
of the Sultan. In fact it is claimed that another -plot of 
the * 'Young Turkish Party" against the life of Hamid 
II. , being discovered two or three days after the Armen- 
ian movements, made a dismal impression upon the mind 
of the tyrant for several days. But soon his fiendish cour- 
age returned upon him with seven fold potency, and the 
greatest tyrant of the Nineteenth Century, the Nero of 
the Turkish Empire, began to plan a wholesale massacre of 
his most defenceless subjects. It is said, and generally 
believed to be true, that a favorite of the tyrant, an Arab- 

13 



ian scoundrel, with his most diabolical advices and intri- 
gues, aided the Sultan in planning the wholesale butcheries. 

According to this plan, their wholesale carnage 
should occur at different cities, at different dates, in order 
that the powers may not suspect the Sultan as the author 
and director of these general massacres. 

The method of effecting the uprisings of the Moham- 
medan population against the Armenians, was also care- 
fully planned. It was very simple and yet a most dia- 
bolical one. According to this plan, at a given day, some 
Turks, disguised in Armenian dress, were to make an at- 
tempt to burn a government palace, or a Mohammedan 
mosque, or were to fire some blank shots upon a Turkish 
crowd and then they were to run into the Christian quar- 
ters of the city, and there in a mysterious way to disap- 
pear. The rest was easy. The Mohammedan population 
were to be called to arms and slaughter the Christians in 
self-defence, and then plunder their stores and houses as 
legitimate spoils. By this diabolical scheme it was very 
easy for the local government, not only to vindicate the 
perpetrators of these butcheries by throwing all the re- 
sponsibilities upon the Armenians, but also very safe and 
easy to hide the real authors of these massacres, not only 
from the Christian powers, and the Armenians, but also 
from the perpetrators themselves. Of course, all these 
secret arrangements were discovered, after the wholesale 
slaughter and rapine occurred in different cities, and 
their causes were found to be almost alike in the majority 
of the cases. But there were some exceptions to the 
method, as we shall see later on. 

Now we have come to the description of these recent 
horrors. 

It will be almost impossible for me to give even the 
most condensed accounts of all those recent carnages in 
Anatolia, in such a little pamphlet. Therefore I will give 
simply a brief description of a few of them to serve as 
samples for hundreds of similar massacres. 

We will begin our second mournful journey by going 
first to Trabizond, a city in Asia Minor, on the Black Sea. 

It is the first week of October, 1895. The whole city 
is in a sea of great excitement. The inhabitants have 
heard about the recent slaughter in the capital. Every- 
where the people are talking of a coming massacre in this 

14 



city also. The foreign consuls call in a body upon the 
governor, and urge him to arrest those who are exciting 
the populace to deeds of violence. For a time matters 
se6m quieted down. But on the 8th day of October, like 
a clap of thunder in a clear sky, the assault begins at 11 
A. M. Unsuspecting people, walking along the streets 
are ruthlessly shot down. Men standing or sitting quietly 
at the door of their stores, are dropping with a bullet 
through their heads or hearts. Their aim is deadly. 
None are left wounded, but they are all killed. Many 
are slashed with swords until life is extinct. Now the 
mob passes through the Christian quarters, where only 
old men and old women and little children are left alive, 
while the rest are slaughtered ruthlessly. For five hours 
this horrid work of inhuman butchery goes on. The 
cracking of musketry, something like a volley from a 
platoon of soldiers, and the thud, thud of sword blows are 
heard on every side. Now the sound of musketry dies 
away, and the work of looting begins. Every shop of an 
Armenian, in the market is gutted, and the victors in this 
cowardly and brutal war, glut themselves with the spoil. 
They have the secret order and sanction of the Porte, who 
can hinder them from their brutal lust and greediness. 
There goes one poor fellow. He is called on to surrender. 
He thinks he was called on to give up his religion. He 
refuses. He is hacked to pieces in the presence of his 
wife and children. Noble martyr, the gates of heaven are 
open for you. He joins that great army of Armenian 
martyrs, with the company of 1200 of his fellow citizens. 

We leave those 1200 mutilated and dishonored bodies 
of the Christians in the streets of Trabizond unburied, and 
direct our trembling steps toward Kharput, a city not very 
far from the banks of the Euphrates. 

On the way, on every side, we see the flames of the 
burning villages rising toward the skies. The poor 
villagers themselves are scattered, butchered and burned 
to death by hundreds and thousands. No reporter saw 
the most mournful tragedies of the age and no newspaper 
published the details of the most fiendish deeds. They 
were seen only by the unslumbering eyes of the Almighty 
and were recorded only by His hands in the books of 
Heaven, to be preserved for the day of judgment, when 
the books shall be opened and their records made known . 

15 



Through bloody paths and firey seas we arrive at 
Kharput. The city is situated on a plain and contains 
25,000 or 80,000 inhabitants, the majority of which are 
Mohammedan races. All over the city you see high 
minarets raising their heads toward the skies, and so pro- 
claiming the name of Mohammed. But Christ also has 
many true and devout followers in this city of everlasting 
oppression. There stands the Armenian College (the un- 
speakable Turk objects to the word "Armenia," therefore 
we must change its name and call it "Euphrates 
College"). This noble institution was founded by the 
toil and tears of many thousands of American and 
Armenian Christians. There stands the seminary, a shin- 
ing light in the midst of the darkest superstitions. There 
we see the dwellings of the American missionaries, many 
of whom have devoted their lives in building up a mighty 
and promising station on the banks of Euphrates. There 
you see many other institutions and churches, which be- 
long to the Gregorian Armenians, who are friendly to the 
preachers of the Evangelical doctrines. 

Let us enter into the city and see what is going on. 
We are now on the second week of last November. Some 
Turks having charged the Armenians with revolutionary 
movements, the government is taking away their arms. 
Soon the dire news of distant massacres begin to pour 
into Kharput from every part of Anatolia. 

The Moslems of Kharput also begin to speak openly 
of a coming massacre . Every day brings with it the 
fresh news of the most fiendish depredations, lust and 
carnage of the Kurdish tribes all over the country. Soon 
after from the surrounding villages many terror stricken 
fugitive Armenians begin to come, and, with tears, relate 
the most infernal butcheries and cruelties of the Kurdish 
hordes, who were evidently advancing upon Kharput. 
The notables of the Armenian population apply to the 
authorities for protection. The government expels them 
from the palace with threats. 

On the lOth of November, the Kurds appear before 
the city, numbering several hundred; the Armenians de- 
fend themselves bravely, simply firing over the heads of 
their assailants. The next day the Kurds renew their at- 
tacks upon the Christian quarters of the city. The Ar- 
menians again defend themselves. But on the 12th day 

i6 



they hear that the Kurds, numbering many thousand are 
just outside of the city and are preparing for another at- 
tack upon the Armenian population. Just at this time 
they see that the regular Turkish soldiers are marching 
to meet the Kurds outside of the city. When the two 
armies of inhuman butcherers meet each other they 
fraternize with each other in such a way as if 
the whole aifair was known and planed by the 
Turkish authorities themselves. After a brief con- 
sultation the plan of the awful carnage is settled. The 
Kurds are now supplied with repeating rifles instead 
of their old fashioned arms. They have the express order 
and sanction of the government. Who can hinder or pre- 
vent them from their most diabolical intentions? The 
Turkish soldiers return to the city without making even 
a show of resistance. Soon after the swarms of innumer- 
able savage Kurds, with demoniacal yells and infernal 
bowlings attack the Armenian quarters of the city. The 
Armenians resist for some time with those few arms that 
were hidden away from the Turkish authorities. But 
overwhelming numbers soon sweep away all barriers 
before the surging sea of the infernal devils. Now begins 
another unparalleled slaughter and carnage and the most 
fiendish acts of lust and sensualities, which no human 
tongue can describe and no mortal pen can paint. The 
battering and breaking of the doors and windows, the 
cracking of the musketry, the terrible slashing sound of 
scimitars, the mournful cries of men and women begging 
mercy on their knees, the pitiful shrieks of little children 
at the sight of the butchery of their fathers and mothers, 
the groans and agonies of the dying ones, mingled with 
the infernal yells and Tartarean howling of the incarnate 
devils themselves, fills the air with an indescribable and 
endless roar. There goes our dear Armenia College. It 
was a sore in the eye of the unspeakable Turk since it 
was built, and now they have set fire to it. There rises 
the flames of the seminary and the houses of missionaries. 
Now they begin to fire upon the missionaries themselves. 
God save those devout souls from the bullets of the cruel 
Turks. Now they are burning the whole christian quar- 
ters. Now they have attacked the churches. O what a 
horrible sight; there, they kill the priests and their con- 
gregations together. Why are those surviving women 



17 



and young girls dragged away with the blows of clubs or 
pulled by their hair? Oh! unspeakable brutalities, fiend- 
ish deeds, my soul trembles within me. Let us hasten to 
depart from Kharput. It is no more a city built for hu- 
man habitation. It is a slaughter house. A den of in- 
carnate devils. A hell upon the face of the earth. 

But, dear soul, soon in your flight you will meet 
other scenes of carnage, lust and butchery, which are 
much more diabolical aud fiendish than these. 

We leave the city of Kharput in the hands of those 
fiendish Turks and regular soldiers, who also joined in 
that general rapine of blood and lust, and in many 
cases much more so than the savage Kurds. 

We leave the Armenians of the whole district scat- 
tered, burned and butchered and with weary steps and 
trembling souls continue our mournful journey toward 
Marash, a city of 40,000 inhabitants in ancient Cilicia, 
and not very far from Tarsus, the birth place of Saint 
Paul. 

Our road passes through immense forests, deep val- 
leys and almost unapproachable mountain passes. In 
every step on the way we meet the unburied and decayed 
bodies of the murdered Armenian christians. Many of 
them are literally torn into pieces by men more brutal 
than the beasts of the forests. In the stillness of night 
we hear the most pitiful cries and heart-rending agonies 
of old men, women and children, who ran away from the 
cities and villages to these unapproachable mountains, and 
are now starving to death by the hundreds. In the day 
time we meet other scenes of unspeakable sorrow and 
horror. Kaise your eyes and look to that little cave. 
There you see a little girl of only five years of age, sitting 
on a bare rock in one of the corners. She is pale, half 
naked, shivering from the cold, hungry, sick and all 
alone. A constant stream of tears is flowing down her 
cheeks, but you never hear any cry. At times, with her 
golden hair she is wiping the burning tears of sorrow 
and undescribable distress, and gazing into the other cor- 
ner of the cave where lies the decaying remains of her 
dear mother. O, what a boundless ocean of unspeakable 
sorrow and agonies are raging in that little heart. 

Two weeks ago, when the Kurds and Bashi Bozooks 
were attacking their little village, her papa hastily came 

i8 



home from the field and shoulderiDg her two little brothers, 
telling her mamma to also shoulder her, they statted to 
run away from the attacking savages, and were not gone 
very far when some Kurds began to chase them. Papa 
and mamma ran as fast as they could, but soon the Kurds 
overtook papa, who, having on his shoulders two of his 
little darlings, could not run as fast as mamma did. The 
Kurds first killed with their swords little Vanes, then she 
heard the shrieks of Toros, and then they killed the dear 
papa too, while mamma, with awful shrieks and wailings, 
ran away from those inhuman butchers, in order to save, 
at least, her darling Anna. She did not stop until sunset 
when she fell down and fainted. For some time she was 
like a corpse and little Anna in vain bitterly tried to 
make her mamma answer her callings. At midnightwith 
an awful shriek she cried, *'0 Heaven save my Anna; 
they have killed my dear Vanes, my dear Toros, my dear 
husband. Heaven save my Anna." Yes, Heaven has 
saved her darling Anna to have a more terrible fate than 
those who have already perished. Till morning she and 
her darling cried bitterly, when, at sunrise, the little girl 
opened her eyes and looking into the face of her mother 
said, ^' Mamma, I am hungry, but we have no bread." 
The loving mother with trembling steps began to look 
among the trees of the forest to find some wild vegetables, 
intending to appease the hunger of her darling by such 
foods. Soon she gathered some roots and green leaves, 
and brought them to her only surviving child. The poor 
little creature began to devour those green leaves and 
chew the roots of the trees. At noon they began to wan- 
der into the hearts of the dark forests and found a cave. 
A whole week they fed upon the leaves and roots of the 
forest, but at the end of the week the mother became sick, 
and poor Anna with tears watched her darling mother 
for three days, while she lay, in awful distress, upon the 
bare rock. On the morning of the fourth day she looked 
into the face of her mother, and lo, her eyes were closed. 
She cried, "Mamma! Dear Mamma!" but no answer came. 
She was dead! All day she put her little, pale cheeks 
upon the cold face of her mother. On the fifth day she 
wandered out of the cave and gathered some roots and 
shrubs to appease her hunger, when she heard some yells 
which resembled those of the Kurds who killed her father 

19 



and brothers. Hastily she ran back to the cave and now 
she is afraid to go out and so is sitting upon a bare rock, 
pale, sick, hungry, all alone in this world, to plead the 
cause of tens of thousand little darliogs of Armenia, who 
are, like herself, wandering and hiding, at this very hour, 
in the mountains of Armenia and Anatolia. 

Through such indescribable scenes, we arrive at the 
top of a high mountain called Aghri Daghi ; " The Moun- 
tain of Pain." The view, that opens before our eyes from 
the top of this mountain, is simply charming. A plain, 
over one hundred square miles, is spread before us, with 
all the imaginable beauties of nature. The rivers of Ak 
Sue and Gihon, with their winding courses and innumer- 
able tributaries, are irrigating the whole plain. The 
distant mountain ranges, rising behind each other, with 
charming purple and deep blue colors, and undulating 
outlines, are giving such a delightful effect, that no tongue 
can describe. The mountain itself is covered by thous- 
ands of vineyards and gardens, matchless in their beau- 
ties, bounties and varieties of fruits. While the innum- 
erable springs and fountains, with their crystal waters, 
are irrigating the whole mountain side. Just on the 
southern slope of the mountain, and not very far from 
us, a most picturesque city is situated upon several hills. 
That charming city is Marash, my native home. There- 
fore, the very sight of it fills my eyes with tears. In 
that dear charming city I have hundreds of friends, rela- 
tives, brothers, sisters, yea, wife and dear little ones. On 
account of a cruel Turkish law, which excludes all natur- 
alized Armenian Americans from their native country 
and homes, I have been deprived of seeing the faces of 
my dear ones for many years. But now we can go to the 
city of my childhood safely and without risk, under the 
care of a faithful imagination. Therefore, let us descend 
the mountain and approach the city from the north. At 
every step the scenery before us is constantly changing, 
and growing more and more charming. Now we are 
within a mile of this modern Garden of Eden. On our 
left, we see a group of buildings gracefully situated upon 
a hill. The one nearest to us, and standing higher than 
the rest, is our dear seminary for young ladies. Behind 
this building we see the dwellings of the American mis- 
sionaries. Among them, just at the central part of the 



20 



group, there stands the theological seminary. Let us ad- 
vance a little more towards the city. Now, far away in 
the central part of the city, upon another hill, we see 
another group of most attractive buildings. They all 
belong to our protestant communities. The one, higher 
than the rest, is the First Congregational Church. Right 
to the south of it, we have public school buildings of 
every grade including an Academy of Science. 

In other parts of the city we have four other protest- 
ant churches. All of them are connected with one or 
more school buildings which are supported by the 
voluntary contributions of our Protestant congregations. 

The Gregorian and Catholic Armenians, also, inspired 
by our educational successes, are trying to rival not only 
each other, but even our own missionary workers. 

The crafty Turks know very well of all these won- 
ders, directly accomplished by the inspirations of the 
American missionaries, therefore, with an infernal hatred 
they hate all these enterprises of the ' ' infidel dogs of the 
west," as they are accustomed to call the missionaries. 

Let us enter into the city and see what is going on. 
What a crowd on the streets ! They are all armed with 
old fashioned guns and swords ! They are going to the 
palace! Now we hear a military band playing. The 
sound of the band is coming nearer and nearer. It is a 
regiment of regulars. They are just coming from the 
capital of the province to join the regulars of Marash. On 
every side we see an active preparation for war. But 
who and where is the enemy ? Against what city are they 
going to direct their attacks ? It is no longer a secret. 
All these preparations are against the Armenians of 
Zeitoun, a town within 18 miles of Marash, situated 
directly on the north and contains eight or ten thousand 
inhabitants. For many years, the local government of 
that town has oppressed the helpless Armenians, and 
lately, the four hundred Turkish soldiers stationed there 
as guards, have committed so many excesses and vile 
brutalities, that the exasperated inhabitants have taken 
arms against the Turkish tyranny, and have besieged 
those four hundred brutal soldiers in their barracks, just 
outside of the city. And now, all these preparations that 
are going on at Marash are directed against the inhabit- 
ants of Zeitoun. 



21 



We are now in the third week of November. Every 
day is bringing into the city hordes of wild mountaineers. 
The regular population of Marash, in time of peace, is 
40,000, about 30,000 of which are Mohammeda^i Turks. 
But now, besides 10,000 regular soldiers, 10,000 or 12,000 
Bashi Bozooks have also come into the city, by the invita- 
tion of the local government, and with the hope of 
plunder, rapine and murder, when the rebel city Zeitoun 
is captured. 

But these savages hear that the inhabitants of Zeitoun, 
having fortified the already unapproachable town, and not 
expecting any mercy from the tyrannical government, 
have decided to defend themselves to the last, therefore, 
these cowardly savages are not very much disposed to risk 
their hides against the bullets of those despaired Guavours. 

But these wild beasts of the mountains must be fed. 
The local government has no money to spare for them, 
Therefore, the savages begin here and there to plunder, 
the shops and the stores of the defenceless Armenians of 
Marash. Nothing can hinder them from deeds of 
violence and murder. With drawn pistols and swords they 
attack the Christians, and rob them before the very eyes of 
the police, who not only do not care to prevent such outrages, 
but actually participate in the rapine. And woe unto 
the Armenian who resists such acts of plunder and rapine. 
Instantly he is hacked to pieces. Every day the distress 
of the Armenians of Marash becomes worse and worse. 
At the same time, the Turkish Government at Constanti- 
nople, in order to prepare the public mind to vindicate a 
massacre at Marash, begins to publish false reports, saying 
"the Armenians of Marash have tried to burn the Mo- 
hammedan mosques of that city, and have fired upon the 
Moslem population." The truth is, the Armenians of 
Marash can hardly venture out of their houses, on account 
of the horrible murders and outrages, perpetrated upon 
them by the savage Kurds and wild mountaineers. Raise 
your eyes and see one of the many awful tragedies that 
happens just out outside of the city. A family of five 
members, father, mother and three children, after having 
spent the summer in their vineyard, are returning to the 
city. A band of savages attack them within the city 
limits, and after outraging the mother and her three 
daughters in the most brutal manner, they hack to pieces 



22 



their helplf ss victims. Every rising day is spreading an 
indescribable terror throughout the Christian population 
of Marash, and they are actually shut up in their houses. 
They all clearly see that the approaching storm of blood 
and fire is not far off. 

We are now on the 17th day of November. It is a 
day of rest. But for the Armenians of Marash there is 
no rest. They are all preparing to defend the lives 
of their dear wives and children against the fast ap- 
proaching bloody storm. They have no arms or ammu- 
nitions, and whatever arms they did have were taken 
away long ago by the Turkish Government. Their 
preparations are merely defensive. They are nailing the 
window shutters, barring the gates and doors of their 
homes, hiding their valuables, and if they have 
the means to repair the easily accessible places to their 
houses or quarters, they are doing so very cautiously in 
order not to attract the attention of their Mohammedan 
neighbors. It is a day of worship , but the Christian 
population of Marash dare not go into the house of their 
Heavenly Father, out of fear that the fanatical Moslems 
may butcher them, while they are engaged in solemn 
worship. And yet there is not a single Christian family 
in that city which is not engaged in solemn supplications 
with tears of indescribable sorrow and agony. 

It is a day of joy and comfort for Christendom, but 
for the Armenian Christians of my dear home, it is a day 
of mourning and wailing and heartrending agonies. Let 
us approach to some of the Christian families and stealthily 
peep in and see what is going on in their secret chambers. 
Oh, what tragical sights are enacted within those private 
chambers! What dreadful scenes are displayed before 
our eyes ! See! how many fathers and mothers are kiss- 
ing and embracing their dear darlings, with the full 
knowledge that they are the last kisses on this side of the 
valley of death. Look, how sisters and brothers are 
hugging each other for the last time on earth, and 
sheding the tears of eternal partings ! Hear, how heart- 
rending are the advices of the Christian mothers and 
fathers, who are unreservedly counselling their charming 
daughters not to yield to the brutal lusts of those infernal 
beasts, even if their lives are offered as a condition, and 

23 



not to give up their religion if the whole world is offered 
as a recompensation. 

But, as I said before, this dear city of Marash, is my 
native home, where I have so many dear friends, rela- 
tives, brothers, sisters, yea, a wife and four darling sons. 
Can I forget them in these most agonizing hours of in- 
describable distress ? Can I pass by their houses without 
having at least a glance into those secret chambers of our 
dear home ? No, no ! I must go and see at least some of 
them and hear their most agonizing petitions directed to 
the throne of God. I must go and see first of all, my 
own dear darlings, though in this imaginary visit, I will 
be found utterly helpless to do anything for them, or have 
any conversation with them. 

Here they are ! I see them for the first time in ten 
years, and that merely by the aid of imagination. O, 
what a great change ! When I left them ten years ago 
they were babies, but now every one of them is quite a 
lad. But poor souls, how pale they look ! Where are 
those rosy cheeks of their babyhood ? Gone ! So, early 
— so prematurely gone, on account of the unspeakable 
distress caused by the absence of their exiled and most 
unfortunate father of all fathers that God has created. 
There, my oldest son Mihran is sitting in one of the cor- 
ners, and with silent tears, he is meditating upon the 
approaching storm of blood and fire. He is thinking how 
to defend the lives of his dear younger brothers and his 
mother when the infernal butchers break the gates and 
the doors of their houses, and dash upon those darling 
ones with drawn swords and cruel scimitars. 

There, in another corner I see my darling son 
Dicran, kneeling before the throne of God and with 
agonizing tears, he is praying to his heavenly Father, 
that He, in His endless mercy may change and soften the 
heart of the Sultan Hamid II, that he may cancel his 
firman for the slaughter of the christians in his empire. 
O, how can I keep silent in the presence of such a devout 
soul, whom I found engaged in secret prayer in behalf of 
his father and mother while only twenty-eight months 
old? He is the same devout and Godly saint ; he is the 
same heavenly angel living upon earth. In him no mur- 
mur, no spirit of revenge, no sign of imprecation of any 

24 



kind. O, God ! O, Merciful Father ! hear the prayers of 
thy little saint, in the hour of agonizing distress. 

There is my third son Haigazoon, a brave little fellow 
of thirteen. With dauntless courage he is walking from 
one end of the room to the other, and back again. He is 
brandishing a cane in his hands and trying to comfort 
all his brothers, yea, even his mother, by promising them 
his protection to the last. He will defend their little 
home against any brute, who will dare to cross the fence 
of their dear home. But poor soul, how can a lamb 
fight against a tiger? May God save him from the 
clutches of those infernal wolves. 

There is my youngest son, my little darling Moses. 
He is sitting by the side of his crying mother and asking 
many questions about tha: beautiful land ''where all tears are 
wiped away." He likes to know about the throne of God, 
about the prospect of recognizing each other in heaven, 
and about the hope of meeting and knowing his earthly 
father on the other side of Jordan. Dear little angel, 
how many times he has written to his earthly father say- 
ing "Oh father, when will I meet you and know you for 
the first tiaie?" Now he has given up all hope of seeing 
his earthly father on this earth, and he is very anxious to 
learn from his mother about the prospect of knowing him 
in heaven. Who can stand at the sight of such heart- 
rending realities and agonizing spectacles? 

Oh, Heaven grant me only a few hours respite to be 
with my dear ones, and permit me to die with them and 
for them. Alas! Heaven will not grant my supplications. 
His ways are mysterious and I must yield without mur- 
mer. Therefore, good bye my darlings, goodbye. May 
His wonderful protection be with you , and you may all 
safely pass through the seas of fire and blood. 

I must go and see at least my only sister and three 
brothers before I leave my native home. 

There is my only sister, a widow, and grief stricken 
soul. Many afflictions have made her bend long before 
her time. She has suffered so much in this world that 
the approaching carnage is a welcome friend. Her only 
desire and request is this, that heaven may please to direct 
the coming butchery in such a way that she and her 
blooming daughter may cross the river of death together. 
Dear sister, may God grant your supplications. Good 

25 



bye dear Mary, good bye. Soon we will all gather to- 
gether on the other shore where death rules no more. 

I must go and see my oldest brother, dear Bagdasar. 
Oh, noble soul, his dwelling is surrounded by the most 
brutal moslems that this world has ever seen , and yet it is 
a shining star in the darkest corner of the heathen world. 
Now I see him kneel down before his heavenly father, 
with all his dear little ones. How calm and composed he 
is. First he begins to read from that most wonderful 
book all those passages which tell about the celestial city 
and its many mansions. He is prepared to meet his 
heavenly father. He has fought the good battle so well. 
He has finished his earthly career so nobly and so glori- 
ously. Now he begins to pray; his soul is filled with the 
approaching glories of heaven. All his supplications are 
chiefly directed to this one point, that God may protect 
his dear wife and children after his death. Dear Bag- 
dasar, surely Heaven will grant your supplications and^in 
all probability some of your dear ones will accompany 
you in your heavenly journey. Good bye my dear saintly 
Bagdasar, good bye. 

Now, I am within the sight of the stately home of 
my youngest brother, John. He does not believe in 
prayer very much, bat his devout wife pleads with him 
to pray with her dear little ones. She gathers her five 
little children around her, and begins to pour her in- 
describable sorrows before the throne of the Most High. 
She prays earnestly that God may spare the life of her hus- 
band as well as the lives of her dear children and father 
and mother, and hundreds of relatives who live not very 
far from their home. 

Last of all I must go and see my dear brother 
Kiragos, Oh, dear brother, we were almost like twins, 
and how often people mistook us for each other. But 
fate has widely separated us. I can see him preparing 
himself for the coming storm. He is not afraid to die. 
He, like brother John, believes in self-defence. Pray, 
brother, pray, that at least your life my be spared when 
the stormy sea of blood drowns the charming hills of 
Marash. Good bye, my gentle-natured Kiragos, good 
bye. You, all my inumerable relatives, good bye. My 
only sorrow, my only disappointment, is, that heaven has 
denied me the privilege to join that heavenly pilgrimage 



26 



whicli soon will start from earthly Marash toward heav- 
enly Zion. 

Now, we must leave the dear Marash and spend the 
night upon a hill, which is situated on the west side of the 
city. The day passes with such awful anxieties. The 
Sunday sun goes down behind the blue Mountains of 
Taurus. The dark hours of the gloomy and dreadful 
night begin to rule. The little ones are laid in their beds. 
But the fathers, mothers and their older sons and daugh- 
ters, who are well aware of their dooms, are waiting and 
watching, in fearful suspense and anxiety, for their sleep- 
ing dear ones, aud cannot close their eyes. They are ex- 
pecting every moment to hear the dreadful carnage be- 
gin. But the night passes away safely and the morning 
comes. The Armenian population of Marash await their 
dooms in their houses. Turks see that it will not be an 
easy task to attack them in their houses. Therefore, the 
local tyranny sends town criers to the Armenian quarters 
with this direful message: " We, the Pasha of the city 
and all the dignitaries of this local government, order and 
demand that every store and shop that belong to a Chris- 
tian dog must at once be opened, and whosoever refuses 
or disobeys such command instantly shall be torn to 
pieces, and all his property shall be plundered and his 
house shall be burned to the ground." 

No other alternative is left for these helpless victims 
but this — death in their houses or death in their stores. 
Many of them obey the government's orders and open 
their stores. In all probability my dear brothers are among 
them. Oh, what tearful * 'good byes" are those that are ex- 
changed in many homes! 

But, there are some Armenians, who prefer death 
in their dear homes, and so refuse to open their shops 
and stores. 

Now the Turks see that their diabolical schemes 
worked well, and it will not be very hard work to butcher 
their victims while they are in their shops and stores. 

It is now 11 A. M. The butchers are ready for their 
bloody work. The local government has given all the 
necessary orders for the management of one of the most 
horrible massacres. We are now standing at the top of 
that hill which is situated on the west of the city. We 
can see almost the whole city from this point, and watch 

27 



the most fearful butcheries of this sinful world with per- 
fect distinctness. 

The citidal of the town is within 1000 yards of us. 
All of a sudden, upon the battlement of the citidal, a few 
soldiers appear and they wave in the air, a banner. This 
is the signal to begin the fearful butcheries. The mob is 
at once divided into three great divisions. The first at- 
tacks the business portion of the city , the second divis- 
ion marches toward the eastern part of the city where the 
Christian quarters are, and the third division divided into 
many secondary divisions, attacks the dwellings of those 
Christians who are scattered all over the city, and many 
of them are completely surrounded by Mohammedan 
neighbors. The first division begins its work earlier than 
the others. Many helpless dear souls are shot, torn and 
hacked to pieces in their stores and shops. They who try 
to reach their houses, are overtaken by the pursuers, 
or are met by the divisions of those other armies of 
butchers and ruthlessly slaughtered in the streets. Only 
a few of them succeed in reaching their houses, to die 
together with their wives and dear little ones. Now the 
first division, having finished the most inhuman and cow- 
ardly work assigned to it, begins to surround the south- 
ern part of the Christian quarters, that none might 
escape the wholesale carnage. 

Now the third division and its secondary divisions 
are burning one by one the christian homes with their 
human contents. Only the most charming women and 
girls are spared for awful passions and lusts. 

At this juncture, the police and the regular soldiers 
also join into the infernal bloodshed. The surging sea of 
fire and blood has almost arrived at the dwellings of the 
American missionaries. There, the flames of our Ladies' 
Seminary is rising! O, how many years I earnestly 
worked for the erection of that institution, and now all is 
gone within a few hours. There goes the Theological 
Seminary with the yellsand Allah Allah's ! of the incarnate 
devils. Now from another part of the city the flames of 
the School of Science are flying to the skies. There they 
kindled the dwelling of my brother John and of more 
than a dozen friends. I see my brother's children scat- 
tered. Where is John? He is butchered, torn into pieces 

28 



by the infernal savages. My dear John, I wish I could 
havp died with you and for you! , r> j 

Therel thl house of my oldest brother Bagdasar 
not more than 1000 yards from us How can I stond a 
tht: sight of such a carnage? God Merciful *atber^ 
fo„t tliP lives of mv brother and his little ones ! Ihe 
Hbtnot vlr" fa?'from his house! The brutes are 
break ng thl gLs and the doors of his house ! They are 
Sg through the windows! He is dragged out and 
Kd to pifces ! God shorten his ago-es It . ove 
he is gone to his heavenly home. The incarDate devi s 
are plundering his earthly home; yea, even robbing his 
dlad body But God in Heaven is crowning him with 
lernal crowns. Where are his children? Where is his 
wife" These are questions that cannot be answered now. 
But let us turn our eyes and see what is going on in 
the ma"n Christian quarters ot the city. They have sur- 
rounded the whole Christian quarters from every side 
Thev are burning whole blocks at a time. Far far away 
in the east end of the city I have one brother left. The 
lb s advancing slowly to that part of the city also 

Here the helpless Armenians with dispair try to de- 
fend their homes, the lives of their wives and dear ones 
The Turks see th;t their advance is not very fast, so they 

gather the whole army of tens of tt'o-^'l^.f ^i^^^he 
Snon the last refuge of the victims. By this time tne 

King Dervishes with their tambourines and infernal 

veUs Incourage the wavering mob, while the Muazms 

from th^ tops of high minarets, with horrible chants and 

"A^«hM^K" urge the army of butchers to finish 

thtk fie^dkh and fearful carnlge Jhere goes the last 

refi.'e of the helpless Armenians of Marash. Oh, God 
ri^yfhistimehea^myprayers,onlyoncegrantm «np^^^^^^^^^ 

4-i^^^ Thprp is mv poor helpless and altogether aetence- 
esffamuj "y S.'dear darlings. Will you not grant 
me sCply this grace-to go and to die with them. I will 
not r™se my hands against any Mohammedan or Turk 
or Kurd but simply die with my dear ones, simply die 

*°^' DW he spare them? Are they living? Is my dear 
almo^ twin b^rother, Kiragos living? How caji/ know 
it' Who will answer to these questions? The night has 
come but the carnage has not ceased. The mob having 



29 



finished the days butchery, has begun a wholesale plunder 
of the stores and houses. The whole night the awful 
flames of thousands of Christian homes are enlightening 
the surrounding hills and mountains. The agonizing 
groans of the wounded and dying raise an indescribable 
echo far away in the mountain sides. The whole n'ght 
passes in Tartarean tortures and wailings. The morning 
comes. The Satanic generation continue their unchecked 
slaughters, rapine and unspeakable acts of fiendish lust 
and lewdness. Now all is over. 1000 souls have gone to 
their eternal homes, while many more are lying at the 
gates of death. Thousands of widows and orphans 
hungry, naked, without home or shelter, are wan- 
dering and searching among the ruins of their homes, the 
remains of their dear husbands, fathers, mothers, brothers 
and sisters. 

Let me go and search for my dear dear darlings. 
Where are they? The house is gone, nothing is left. 
Did my little darlings also perish in that infernal storm of 
fire and blood? For many weary days I wander among 
the ruins of that city searching for lost ones, and at last 
from the ruins of Marash, a gentle voice in a whisper 
says, "Your son Dicran is living." God bless him. He 
is living, but where are the three darling^s and their 
mothers ? No answer. Awful suspense. Where is my 
dear brother Kiragos? The same gentle voice says *'he 
also is alive, but at the gate of death." Oh, Heaven only 
one brother left to me in this world, and he at the gate of 
death. How can a mortal man like me stand such terri- 
ble blows? ''Wherefore is light given to him that is in 
misery, and life unto the bitter in soul." Why have I 
been spared from that awful destruction? Oh, merciful 
Father, why have I not been permitted to die with my 
brothers, scores of relatives and friends and (in all prob- 
ability) with my own darlings and wife? 

But where are the widows and orphans of ray dear 
brothers? I see them wandering among the smouldering 
ruins of their dear homes. Oh, what heart rending sights ! 
Over a score of them ! They have now found the charred 
remains of brother John. Oh, what mournings, what 
wailings. There the remains of dear Bagdasar is taken 
out of the ruins. Dear Bagdasar, what a saint he was, 
what an angel he was. Dear brother, thine is the rest, 

30 



mine will be the toil. Dear soul, God will take care of 
your orphans and I will cheerfully work and toil to pay 
my solemn obligations to you, to John and to all. Now 
I see why heaven has spared me. I will no more mur- 
mur or wonder, but simply pray, obey and surrender. 
Good bye my darlings, living or dead, wounded or dying, 
good bye, I cannot tarry here any longer. I have a sol- 
emn duty to accomplish, a great debt to pay. I bid you 
good bye, may His most wonderful compassion and care 
be over all of you, till we all meet together in the home 
above, where all sorrows are forgotten and tears are 
wiped away. 

We leave dear Marash in smouldering ruins, many 
hundreds of Armenian myrters unburied, and her mon- 
uments leveled to the ground, and with indescribable sor- 
rows advance toward the Cara Dagh, a very high moun- 
tain 15 miles distant from Marash, and directly on the 
west of it. 

From the top of this mountain a fearful sight opens 
before our eyes. The whole panorama before us displays 
the extent of the destruction which is going on all over 
Cilicia. Many scores of Christian villages are in flames 
on every side. Innumerable savage hordes of robbers are 
pouring into Marash from every side, to rob not only the 
living but also the dead ! while inhuman butchers of the 
mountain districts, like hungry wolves are chasing the 
helpless men, women and children from hill to hill, and 
from cave to cave. Poor fugitives who are fortunate to 
gain the town of Zeitoun, as the last refuge from their 
pursuers, are beseiged in that Armenian town. Soon the 
most awful fate will overtake them there, and they also 
will surely perish in this absolutely universal storm of 
blood and fire. 

From the top of this high mountain, we can almost 
discern the American warships cruising near the shore of 
Asia Minor. Why ? What is their aims ? Nothing, 
simply to say to the Christians of America, " Our gov- 
ernment has done, is doing, and will continue to do all 
that lies in its power to ensure full protection of life and 
property to American citizens, legitimately sojourning in 
that Empire." How true, all that the United States can 

do is CRUISING ! 

Here we stop our most heartrending and sorrowful 

31 



journey. We have no power left in us to visit the scenes 
of others, equally and in many cases much more horrible 
massacres. We will not take our readers with us to go to 
Van, Bitlis, Erzeroum, Moush, Arabkir, Sivas, Dear- 
hekir, Orfa, Aintab, Birejick, Hajin, Shar, Talas, Kaserie, 
Scutari, Marsivan and scores of other cities, and several 
hundreds of villages all over Anatolia and Armenia to 
show them the most appalling and fearful destructions 
that this world ever saw. 

Is is beyond our aims and abilities to write a book, 
which will give at least in a condensed form all the de- 
tails of those unparalleled and unheard of rapine, carnage 
and absolutely indescribable lust and lasciviousness. TJie 
scenes that we have tried to describe were by no means 
worse than those that we have omitted. The most ap- 
palling horrors we left untold. The worst shall be known 
only on the Judgment Day. 

But we cannot pass by all these frightful butcheries 
without making a few general remarks on them, which 
will throw some light upon the whole panorama of all 
these fiendish deeds and reveal to us the real authors, 
their motives, as well as the impulses and incentives of 
the perpetrators themselves. 

Already we have given some hints concerning the 
motives of the instigators of the movements among the 
Armenians. We have also briefly explained the real 
causes of the apathy of the s i-called Christian powers of 
Europe. But thus far we have not made any extensive re- 
marks which would have given an ample insight of the 
real motives of the authors and perpetrators of the 
nefarious carnages. 

It is of supreme importance that all Christendom, 
and especially the people of this country, might fully 
understand the real nature of the Mohammedan move- 
ments throughout Asia. 

The followers of the false religion are fully aware of 
the approach of the most momentous times in the history 
of their religion. Not only in Turkey, but all over the 
world Mohammedanism is preparing herself for a final 
struggle. Do the Christian nations of the world fully 
understand these facts ? Do they amply realize the gravity 
of the Mohammedan movements in Turkey ? Or do they 

32 



think that these commotions are simply a temporary 
tempest and soon will settle down? 

If we desire to comprehend all the causes of those 
Moslem movements we must have, at least, a brief retro- 
spective view of the great struggle which has raged be- 
tween the followers of Christ and the followers of 
Mohammed since the seventh century. 

At the commencement of this most gigantic conflict 
Mohammedanism, at the head of immense armies, attacked 
the disunited christian races of the east, and easily con- 
quered them. 

After a few centuries the misguided Christians of the 
west began to send some succor to the oppressed christians 
of the east. 

We know how shamefully ended the wars of the Cru- 
saders against the Mohammedan races. 

Soon after these struggles were over the Ottoman 
Turks crossed into Europe and after capturing the capi- 
tal of the Greek empire, they began to threaten the 
whole of Christendom, but God in his most wonderful 
providence used the capture of Constantinople as a great 
cause of the reform of his corrupted church, and it is 
simply marvelous to see the decline of the Turkish Em- 
pire begin soon after the church of God was reformed. 

But this great struggle between the followers of 
Christ and the followers of Mohammed took, at the be- 
ginning of this century, a very different form, through 
the introduction of a new element into the conflict. This 
new element was nothing less than the preaching of 
the evangelical doctrines in the Turkish Empire through 
the American missionaries. 

Mohammedanism, at first, not only suspected no 
danger from the preaching of the missionaries, but 
actually expected some indirect help by the increase of 
divisions among her Christian subjects. But she was mis- 
taken in her expectations. Until the beginning of this 
century Mohammedanism had to do always with a cor- 
rupted Christianity — with the Greek and Latin churches, 
therefore she was almost always victorious against that 
sort of Christianity* 

But no sooner did the reformed Christianity began to 
come into contact with Mohammedanism than the latter 
began to feel the unlimited strength of the former. The 

33 



Moslem of the Turkish Empire clearly saw that in the 
preaching of the missionaries there was a power which 
was fast undermining their religion. They also fully 
realized the great danger that was threatening their 
tyrannical throne and was directly emanating from the 
dissemination of the Christian civilization of the west in 
their own domain. Therefore, as soon as they discovered 
this most appalling strength of the evangelical doctrines, 
they began to restrict all the privileges of the missionaries 
granted them under treaty rights, and soon after they 
began to deny many educational rights which were ex- 
pressly granted to the native protestant communities. As 
we have already intimated, the Turkish government was 
actually encouraged by the Russian and French govern- 
ments to lay a diabolical scheme for the expulsion of the 
American missionaries as the instigators of those move- 
ments among the Armenians, and ihen to destroy all ves- 
tiges of the missionary enterprises in her domain. These 
facts clearly explain why during the recent massacres the 
fury of the fanatical Islam was chiefly directed against 
our missionaries. The Moslems were instigated not only by 
the central government at the capital, but also by that most 
captivating, universal and ancient belief that the time of 
the great struggle between the Islam and the infidels 
had come. The gravity of all these Mohammedan move- 
ments lies here. The true and reformed Christianity and 
the false religion, for the first time in their history, have 
come face to face and all this bloodshed and carnage in 
Asia Minor is simply the preliminary skirmish of that 
most gigantic conflict of which the whole world is going 
to be a battlefield. 

At present every Moslem, not only in the Turkish 
Empire but all over the world, firmly believes that the most 
enviable time for the followers of Mohammed have at last 
come, and they are called upon to exterminate, by the special 
sanction of God and his prophet, Mohammed, all the 
infidel dogs from the face of the earth. Does Christen- 
dom know these facts ? Are the Christian nations of 
Europe fully aware of such a universal belief, stiring and 
.agitating the whole of Mohammedan. worlds against the 
whole of Christendoms ? Thus far all indications point 
to a negative answer. True, here and there, in the 
obscure corners of some newspaper or magazine, we read 

34 



an article written by a missionary or an able traveler, 
which gives an ample warning concerning such ominous 
movements in the Mohammedan world, but soon such 
hints are forgotten or lost sight of. 

As we are fully awarfe of these gigantic and fanatical 
movements that are going on among the followers of the 
false prophet, we deem it our solemn duty to inform the 
people of this Christian land of their movements. Do 
the people of this country >now that through their mis- 
sionary workers in Turkey they have actually wounded 
the old lion of Mohammedan fanaticism ? Are they 
aware of the unquestionable fact that the massacre of the 
Armenian Christians is simply the direct result of their 
hearty welcome of the missionaries and their loyalty to 
their Heavenly Master? If not, through this little 
pamphlet, we earnestly request them to investigate these 
statements and find whether they are true. 

The unspeakable Turk, after hiding for a long time 
his most bitter hatred against the American missionaries, 
recently has begun openly and defiantly to charge them 
with sedition. According to the most reliable reports, 
the local governments in the provinces have prepared a 
declaration, saying " The American missionaries were the 
real authors of these recent outbreaks in Turkey, by 
stiring up the Armenians to revolt," and forcing the help- 
less Armenians to sign such a lying document. 

This diabolical scheme has a three fold object in view. 
First, to criminate the American missioi aries before the 
eyes of the whole world, as well as before the eyes of the 
suffering Armenians. Second, to justify the refusal of 
the indemnities for the loss of the missionaries. And 
third, to inflame the relentless fury and most bitter fana- 
ticism of the Mohammedan world against the missionaries. 
This latest diabolical movement of the Turk, beyond all 
doubt, proves all our general statements concerning the • 
nature of all these Mohammedan movements in Asia. 
Mohammedanism has clearly made up her mind to fight 
against the preachers of the Reformed Christianity every 
where, and exterminate all those who welcome the preach- 
ers of Protestant doctrines. iShe is confident in her final 
success on account of the most nefarious and vile sectar- 
ianism of those so called Greek and Catholic Christian 
powers, who have already aided the unspeakable Turk 

35 



against the English and American Protestants, not simply 
by their apathy and indifference to the slaughters of the 
helpless Armenians, but also by their fiendish policy of 
actually preventing England from stepping in and stop- 
ping the horrible inhuman butcheries. 

The unspeakable Turk greatly emboldened by the 
shameful jealousies of the powers, fearlessly, day by day, 
is increasing his carnage and rapine upon his helpless vic- 
tims. He has already begun his work of conversion of 
the despaired Armenians to his false religion, by offering 
them the choice between the Koran and the sword. Lately 
he has offered shelter and food to the widows and orphans 
of thousands of martyrs by this condition, that they must 
yield to the religion and lust of their Mohammedan 
neighbors. 

It is under such fearful, appalling and most heart- 
rending circumstances that I have resolved to make an 
earnest plea for my most helpless and most unfortunate 
people, and beg some relief for the starving myriads who 
are at this very hour wandering in the mountains and 
forests of Asia Minor and Armenia. 

I am fully aware of my inefficiency to present amply 
the most pitiful appeals of my people, but the most 
solemn duty and obligations which are pressing upon me, 
as a member of that most unfortunate people, are so ur- 
gent and importunate in their demands, that no amount of 
consciousness of my insufficiency can make me keep 
silent. Therefore I must speak and plea, yea, even en- 
treat for my martyred people, whose cries for mercy, 
sympathy and help has shaken the whole world. 

For this most sacred cause, first of all, I call upon 
you, the preachers of the gospel and the servants of the 
word of God; you all preach kindness, sympathy and 
charity, you all teach that the poor must be cared for, 
"the needy must be supplied and the children of distress 
must be comforted. Now I come to you in behalf of 
hundreds of thousands of poor, needy and distressed men, 
women and children, who are starving to death by hun- 
dreds and thousands at a time. I ask you what have you 
done to alleviate the agonies of those perishing myraids? 
Have you given your attention to those horrible tales of 
distress published daily in the newspapers of this country? 
Have you brought their sacred cause before your congre- 

36 



gations, and have you asked some rtlief in behalf of the 
widows and orphans of those martyred Christian Armen- 
ians? I know that some of you have done your duties 
toward those afflicted and persecuted Christians of Ar- 
menia, and have already sent some relief to the victims 
of the unspeakable Turk, but I fear that many of you 
with various pretexts and excuses have neglected this 
most solemn duty up to this time. Therefore, through 
this tract, I earnestly beg you in the name of your sacred 
profession, in the name of humanity, and above all, in 
the name of your blessed Master, to bring this most 
urgent and sacred cause before your congregations with- 
out further delay, and urge them to send some relief to 
those starving myriads. In addition to this, with all your 
strength, raise your voices against the apathy ot the 
Christian powers of the world and condemn their shame- 
ful and unpardonable policy. If you do this, then you 
will not only be the preacher? of the word but also the 
doers of the same. 

Next I call upon you, the leaders of education and 
the defenders of true Christian civilization. You have 
devoted yourselves to a noble calling and yourprofession is 
truely sacred. You delight in the training and molding 
of the human intellect. It is the glory of your noble pro- 
fession to give a free scope to every talent that God has 
hidden in the soul. You abhor ignorance and rage a re- 
lentless war against those who try to disparage and 
restrict your sacred callings. But turn your eyes to those 
classic lands of the East, and see how the unspeakable 
Turk has kept the minds as well as the bodies of many 
millions in utter darkness and slavery for 500 years. 
Now, even in such a century, he is raging war against the 
resplendent civilization of the West. With an implacable 
fury he is burning, one after another, the colleges, semi- 
naries, schools and every institution, which was erected 
chiefly by the labors and tears of this noble nation. Can 
you stand still and gaze on those barbarities with a supine 
indifference and be loyal to your sacred callings ? Will 
you permit that archfiend in his infernal fury to abolish 
all the educational undertakings of this Republic with im- 
punity? If not, why thus far have you not spoken? 
Why are you not raising your mighty voices against all 
these barbarities and condemning the Turk with all your 

37 



might ? If you are waiting for civilized Europe to take 
the lead, you are surely under-estimating your prestige 
and sacred rights. Therefore, in the name of your noble 
callings, in the name of civilization of the Nineteenth 
Century, and above all in the name of humanity, I en- 
treat you, I implore you to raise your strongest protests 
against all vandalisms of theMoselm hordes. Speak with 
your thundering voices and the tyrant surely will tremble. 
Write with your flashing pens and the prince of darkness 
and ignorance will shudder. 

I come to you, the societies of charities, secret orders, 
labor organizations, brotherhoods, fraternities, and every 
kind of benevolent institutions. I love and respect your 
noble aims and principles. Surely you have done a great 
service to your fellow beings by your self denials and 
contributions. Your favorite hobby is to alleviate the 
miseries and distress of your associates, to abolish the op- 
pressions of the tyrants and to establish equality and 
brotherhood among all men . For this noble end you have 
organized yourselves into societies of mutual help ; but as 
I understand, your principles are not confined only to your 
narrow circles ; you have such benevolent and broad prin- 
ciples and aims which run out of your own societies and 
embrace the whole of mankind without the distinction of 
birth, race or nationality. Therefore, through this little 
pamphlet I come to your secret halls and public meetings 
in behalf of a nation whose sorrows, sufferings and wail- 
ings have already filled the whole of the civilized world. 
At least for a moment turn your eyes from your daily 
toils and labors, and look at the hills and valleys of Asia 
Minor and see how the brutal Turk is chasing, hunting, 
butchering and massacreing an industrious race who has 
served him for many centuries without a murmur. True, 
the unfortunate race lives far. far away from your shores; 
mighty oceans, great seas and high mountains have separ- 
ated them from you, but they are all united with you 
with many noble qualities and virtues ; they carry in their 
veins the, same blood that you carry ; they cherish in their 
hearts the same tender feelings that you cherish. The 
Christians of Armenia are a noble race. They love their 
homes and highly respect social purity ; they delight 
in entertaining the stranger and the needy ; they are far 
superior to their oppressors in intellectual traits and in 

38 



business talents ; they are the most industrious race in all 
Asia Minor, while their lazy oppressors, who hate to work, 
and are given to plunder, actually have lived upon the 
labors of those helpless Armenians for many centuries, 
and when lately they found that their Armenian slaves 
could not support them by their labors, they began to 
massacre them by the wholesale. 

You who love and defend the sacredness of home, 
family and social purity, will you not join in the univer- 
sal protest which is going on to shake the whole world ? 
Will you be willing, with your great armies of laboring 
men, women and children, to come to the front and say 
to the unspeakable tyrant, " thou infernal brute, stop thy 
carnage and slaughter of our helpless fellow beings?" 

If not, how can you expect that your doctrines are 
going to conquer the whole world? How can you be 
found loyal and faithful to your principles, if you stand 
still and gaze indifferently on the slaughter of your fellow 
beings? No, no ! You are too noble to be indifferent to 
the sufferings of a nation that believes in the equality of 
mankind, in the protection of individual liberty and free- 
dom, and in the sacredness of home. 

I earnestly believe that my appeals will find a hearty 
response in your secret halls, and you also will raise your 
voices against the greatest outrages of the nineteenth cen- 
tury and with your substantial aid, alleviate the sufferings 
of the helpless Armenians. 

I come to you the editors, writers and reporters of 
newspapers of every description. I come to you with the 
full knowledge of your might and sway. In this land of 
liberty and independence you have almost unlimited 
power upon the sentiments of the public. At your call- 
ing you can bring out the horrid ghost of war from its 
infernal caves. At your rebuke the sweet angel of peace 
hastily flies away. 1 bring before you a cause, in which 
you are already interested and for which you have per- 
formed wonders. Many of you at the great risk of your 
lives have penetrated into the depth of "Darkest Turkey," 
and souls in hand have gathered the horrible tails of 
fiendish deeds and brutalities and have scattered them to 
the four winds of the earth. Thus far you have served 
for the cause «.f Armenia, more than any other class of 
men in this country. But the poor sufferers of Armenia 

39 



are not aware of your noble services in their behalf. They 
are not permitted to know of your kindness. The un- 
speakable Turk has shut them into the dungeons of igno- 
rance, and therefore, they think that the whole of Chris- 
tendom, yea, the whole world have forgotten them. If 
they knew of your services, surely with tears they would 
extend their gratitude toward you, and in their agonies 
they would not have despaired so bitterly. 

But you have not finished your work. There re- 
mains yet much to be done. This great nation has not 
been stirred up thoroughly. Therefore, in the name of 
the starving myriads, I beg you to continue in your noble 
efforts in behalf of those perishing, utterly helpless 
widows and orphans; with your editorials and publica- 
tions, far and wide spread the indescribable sufferings 
and distresses of the martyred Armenians. Give to the 
four winds of the earth the agonizing tales of all the 
fiendish deeds of the Turks, Kurds, and especially of 
the chief fiend himself. And do not cease hurling 
your thunders until the butcher is butchered, the tyrant is 
dethroned and the blood of the last man and the last 
child is avenged. 

I appeal to you the leaders of this noble nation and 
the representatives of this grand republic. I come to you 
with all the respect due to your high positions, and abso- 
lutely free from all party prejudice or prepossessions, I 
come to you, not with exaggerated statements, or unfounded 
political surmises, but with well established facts, and 
official documents and correspondence. 

Through some of your able ministers to Turkey, you 
have been well acquainted with the diabolical policy of 
the Porte against your American missionaries in its 
domain. You are aware how the fanatic Turk, within 
the last fifteen years, gradually have deprived the Amer- 
ican missionaries from their religious rights, granted 
them by special treaties. Your State Department knows 
very well how the Sultan issued a firman to close your 
mission schools in his empire, and soon after actually 
closed many of them, and a little later threatened to close 
them all. Again you are perfectly aware of the fact, 
that four years ago, through the secret instigations of the 
Turkish government the fanatic Moslems began to burn 

40 



your colleges and churches, under the cover of night, by 
the full knowledge of the local authorities. 

When the Turkish government saw that you are in- 
different to the interests of your missionaries and citizens, 
she took one step more and passed a law by 
which she excluded all the naturalized Americans from 
her domain. It was a gross insult against this Grand 
Republic, and yet you, as the representatives of this na- 
tion, did not make even a protest against this gross insult. 
The Sultan, finding no check before him, soon passed 
another law prohibiting the emigration of the wives and 
children of the naturalized American citizens who were 
sojourning legitimately in her domain. You, being fully 
aware of all these outrages perpetrated against your peace- 
ful citizens, did not protest against such a cruel law, but 
formally and actually recognized, yea even approved such 
an abominable and altogether outrageous law, and so 
brought upon thousands of altogether innocent and help- 
less naturalized Armenian Americans, and upon their 
wives and children, awful calamity and distress. 
We have in our possession your official documents, which 
prove all these statements. 

Being one of the victims of such an outrageous law, 
again and again I have applied to you for protection. But 
every time the same answer came, " You are a naturalized 
Armenian American. Turkey does not recognize our 
citizenship, therefore we cannot protect you." 

Even this is not all that Turkey did against this 
country and its citizens. When the heartless Sultan 
Hamid saw that he could escape all the consequence of 
those outrages with impunity, he, lately, began to burn 
down, not secretly, but openly, all your colleges, semin- 
aries and dwellings of your missionaries. Not satisfied 
with this, he openly and deliberately insulted this govern- 
ment by refusing to recognize the two consuls sent there, 
most recently, and they were forced to return back 
disgracefully. Even this is not all. During these 
bloody carnages the Porte., with contempt and 
scorn, has repeatedly defied this great nation and 
has already destroyed over $800,000 of property 
belonging to the American missionaries, and has de- 
liberately and repeatedly defied and scorned your Legation 
at Constantinople. Even not satisfied with this, many of 

41 



your citizens were beaten, insulted, imprisoned, and over 
fifty of them were massacred, and what is more than 
probable some of my own dear ones are among those vic- 
tims. They are also naturalized citizens on account of 
my citizenship. 

I ask you, the chief executives and representatives 
of this country, what have you done to prevent or to 
punish such outrages perpetrated against your own 
citizens ? I have a formal and official answer from the 
State Department, which I deem it appropriate to quote 
on this occasion. 

It was on the 17th of last November when I was 
called to speak in a union meeting at Sidney, Ohio. 
After the meeting was over a gentleman stepped forward 
and asked me if i had seen a cablegram from Constanti- 
nople which was published that morning and gave the 
brief details of an awful massacre that had occurred at 
Kharput. I said no. Something impressed upon my 
mind all that night and I felt an awful anxiety for my 
friends and relatives at Marash. The following morning 
I got up unusually early and began to cry bitterly on ac- 
count of the great danger that threatened the Christians 
of Marash. For over an hour I asked myself, what can I 
do for the safety of my dear ones? Suddenly it dawned 
to my mind that I must send a request to the President 
and ask once more for protection to my wife and children. 
So I at once went to the telegraph office and sent the fol- 
lowing telegram: 

Sidney, Ohio, Nov. 18th, 1895, P. O. Gen. Del. 
President Cleveland of the United States of America, 
Washington, D. C. 

"The lives of my wife and four minor children at 
Marash, Turkey, in Asia, are in great danger. Ask pro- 
tection as American citizens." S. S. Yenovkian. 

On the 26th of November the dire news of the awful 
massacres of Marash, for the first time began to be pub- 
lished in the newspapers of this country. I was simply 
wonderstruck when I saw that the very day, yea the very 
hour that I began to cry bitterly and sent the telegram to 
the president, the awful massacre had commenced at my 
home, Marash. 

On the 28th of that month while at Delaware, O., I 

42 



received the following letter, which was forwarded from 
Sidney, O. 

Department of State, Washington, D. C. 

November 25, 1895. 
S. S. Yenovkian, Esq., Sidney, O. 

Sir: — Your communication to the President, of the 
18th inst., saying that the lives of your wife and four 
minor children at Marash, Turkey, are in great danger 
and asking their protection as American citizens, has been 
referred to this department. 

Mr. Terrell, the United States Minister at Constan- 
tinople, has made no report of individual cases, but under 
his standing instructions, has acted promptly on all such 
matters during the recent troubles in Turkey. This gov- 
ernment has done, is doing, and will continue to do, all 
that lies in its power, to ensure full protection of life and 
property to American citizens legitimately sojourning in 
that empire, and the efforts of Mr. Terrell have been un- 
remitting to that end. I am sir, your obedient servant, 

Richard Olney. 

Here we pause a little while, and then with all the re- 
spect due to your high positions we ask you, what have 
you done, as the chief representatives of this Republic, to 
protect the lives and properties of your citizens in Turkey? 
You will say, "why, we have sent three gunboats to 
Turkish waters." We know of it, but we would like to 
know what are these gunboats doing in Turkish waters? 
"They are cruising." Are they protecting your treaty 
rights there ? " No, they are there to cruise." Are they 
preventing the persecution of your missionaries? "No, 
they are there only to cruise." Are they stopping the 
burning and plunder of your colleges, seminaries and 
missionary buildings? "No, they are there simply to 
cruise." But we hear that almost fifty American citizens 
are butchered ; are those gunboats going to do anything 
to prevent further butchery of the citizens of this coun- 
try ? " No they are there only to cruise." But Secretary 
Olney in his letter, says : " This government has done, 
is doing and will continue to do all that lies in its power, 
in order to protect the lives and the properties of its 
American citizens in Turkey." 

What a shameful policy ! Simply cruising up, cruis- 
ing down, cruising right, cruising left, and this is all that 

43 



this government can do while the flag, the honor, the 
rights of this country are trampled down by a most cow- 
ardly tyrant and the lives of its citizens are taken in cold 
blood. But the Turk is much more practical in his pol- 
icy. He does not believe in cruising ; he believes in 
plundering, burning, outraging, killing and massacreing, 
and you expect to stop those things by simply cruising ? 

This is not all that we can say against the most out- 
rageous foreign policy of the present administration in 
Turkey. 

The Secretary, in his letter, praises the efforts of 
Minister Terrell, at Constantinople, in high terms. It is 
not our aim to make public all the charges that are 
brought against Minister Terrell; we only say this, we 
have ample proofs to convict him as a traitor if we find 
the right court. 

I do not appeal to the general government of this 
nation in behalf of the oppressed and outraged Armenians. 
A government that does not care to protect the lives, 
honors and property of its own born and naturalized citi- 
zens, will never consent to do anything for a people which 
are not connected with the ties of citizenship. My only 
hope is in the good and godly people of this country, 
therefore I direct my appeals to them. 

I come to you, the true citizens of this country, with 
full confidence iu your generosity and benevolent 
virtues. I have more and greater expectations in you 
than in any other class of men. If any real and sub- 
stantial help is going to be rendered to the suffering and 
perishing Christians on Armenia, it isgoingtobe rendered 
by the individual citizens of this country, and not by its 
general government. 

Therefore, through this pamphlet, I come to your 
houses, to your stores and offices, and in the name of 
humanity, in the name of religion, and, above all, in the 
name of God, ask some relief in behalf of the e500,000 
men, women, children and suckling infants, who are at this 
very hour perishing by hundreds and thousands. 

Will you be willing to respond to this most urgent 
and sacred call? Will you be willing, by your generous 
contributions, to save at least some of that great army of 
destitute and distressed women and children ? 

Remember that they are the true worshipers of God 

44 



and the loyal followers of Christ. They have not done 
anything wrong. They are innocent. Their crime is their 
loyalty to their religion, and they are persecuted because 
they do not believe in that false prophet, Mohammed. 

You have in this land of independence a free 
and peaceful country. Your lives and properties 
are protected. No man, no tyrant can impose 
upon you. You have comfortable homes and well- 
supplied tables. Your sons and daughters are the joys of 
your dear sweet homes. You will not lose much if you 
give a few cents or a few dollars for the sufferers of the 
Armenian massacres. Will you be willing, O, you 
mothers, to send some of your old clothings, through the 
Red Cross Society, to the grief stricken and almost 
naked widows and outraged young ladies to cover their 
shivering bodies from the cold winds of the winter? 

Oh you fathers, who love your little darlings, and 
will readily give your dear lives to save them from the 
hands of cruel butchers, will you be willing to give a few 
cents or a few dollars to relieve the agonies of tens of 
thousands of Armenian children who are starving to death 
one by one. With incessant tears I am writing these 
lines, in every other second I am stopping and wiping the 
burning tears from my eyes, hoping and believing that 
my feeble efforts shall not be in vain. 

Oh, you rich people of this blessed land, I entreat 
you not to forget in your stately mansions the poor old 
men and old women, who are crouching into the caves 
and cracks of rocks in the mountains of Armenia. Once 
they also had some shelter, they also used to gather 
around their fire places and enjoy, at least in some meas- 
ure, the happiness of home. But one day a mob attacked 
their houses, they killed their dear ones, burned the 
houses and spared them on account of their old age, to 
die a more miserable death than their sons and daughters. 
See, now, they are all alone ; theyhaveno sons, no daugh- 
ters, no friends, no relatives, no food, no clothing, no 
strength, absolutely nothing. Will you be willing to 
to alleviate their agonies by your relief ? 

I ask you, men and women of prayer, will you be 
willing to bow before the mercy seat of God, that He in 
His compassion may consent to shorten the days of the 
tribulations of the daughter of Armenia, and restore her 

45 



to her former less miserable condition, or if it is His 
blessed will to grant her perfect freedom and indepen- 
dence from the cruel hands of the detestable Turk. 

Last of all, but by no means the least, I come to you 
the representatives of the "American National Red Cross 
Society." With the full realization of all the difficulties and 
dangers that lie before you; you have consented to go to 
the land of the tyrant, and try in every possible way to 
alleviate the distresses and agonies of those suffering 
myriads. 

Did ever a mortal being undertake a nobler and more 
benevolent enterprise than the one which you have un- 
dertaken in these days of unparalleled horrors and dis- 
tress? Yours is the honor undefiled, courage unchallanged 
and joy unlimited, 

From every part of this blessed land we bring our 
little gifts to you. Take them and fill your chartered 
steamer with food and clothing. We bid you God speed 
with the tears and joys of sacred hope and sorrow. 

When your colors disappear in the stormy horizon of 
the Atlantic, remember that millions left behind you will 
earnestly pray for your success and safety. When you 
pass by the famous rock of Gibraltar do not salute the 
freebooters of the perfidious England who only fight for 
gold and silver, and never risk their lives for right and 
for humanity. 

When your sail glides over the gentle ripples of the 
Mediterranean, quietly whisper to the ears of faithless 
Europe that the day of vengeance is not far. When you 
anchor on the coast of the land of endless oppression, tell 
to the chief Tyrant that you have come from the ends of 
the earth to repair the ruins which his infernal torches 
have caused, to feed the widows and the orphans whom 
his avaricious greed has robbed, to clothe the naked, to 
cheer the dishonored who have been the victims of his 
most brutal lust, to nurse the sick, to care for the 
wounded whom his cruel hands have smitten , and to com- 
fort the bereaved and to bury the martyrs who have been 
bereaved and butchered by his own savage hords. 

When you stand upon the land of theStarandCresent, 
where once ancient prophets and patriarchs dreamed 
heavenly dreams, where iJavid and Solomon sang their 
sacred songs, where Apostles and the Savior himself 

46 



preached the good tidings, but now the false religion 
rules, unfurl the peaceful emblem of the blessed "Red 
Cross" in the name of Christ and humanity. 

Go forward with dauntless courage ; find the wanderer 
in his endless path ; seek the weary fugitive in his dread- 
ful loneliness ; lift up and kiss the curly haired darlings 
who are aimlessly wandering all alone in that land of sor- 
row and distress. 

Climb the high mountains of Anatolia, plunge to the 
deep valleys of Cilicia and Cappadocia, carefully search 
the immense forests of all Asia Minor, gather the scat- 
tered myriads and lead them to the sites of their dear 
homes. 

Feed the hungry and the starving, cloth the naked, 
comfort the bereaved, encourage the despairing, dress the 
wounded, nurse the sick, and watch over the dying saints. 
In their last agony cheer them with the promises of the 
eternal life. Speak to them of that land, "Where the 
wicked cease from troubling, and there the weary be at 
rest, there the prisoners rest together, they hear not the 
voices of the oppressor. The small and the great are 
there and the servant is free from his master." And 
when their spirit passes through the pearly gates of that 
celestial city, where no Turk or Kurd can follow them, 
deliver their earthly remains to the dust of the earth, 
there let them rest till the end of time, when the great 
Gabriel will sound his trumpet. 

And when you are through with your most sacred 
work in the provinces of Anatalia go to the capital of that 
most brutal tyrant, that incarnate devil, Satan Hamid 
II., and in the name of this great Christian nation bid 
him stop his fiendish butcheries. If the brute refuses to 
listen to your gentle voices, tell him that you have millions 
of brave brothers in the land of freedom, who will sail 
for the land of detestable Islam, and in the name of 
Christianity and humanity, will wipe out the execrable 
Turk from the face of the earth. 

And when you have fulfilled this most sacred mission 
turn your faces toward this dear Land of Charity, and 
sail onward with the songs of an undying victory. When 
you enter with flying colors into the harbors of home 
and liberty, we will welcome you as the true heroes and 

47 



heroines ti faith, love and charity. But your rewards 
will not be complete until the day of all rewards dawns, 
when the Great Master will honor you with eternal thrones 
and crowns. 




48 



jQedicated. 



To the most sacred memories of my dear 
ones, brothers, relatives and scores of friends, 
who perished in the company of those one 
hundred thousand Armenian martyrs, that 
were massacred in defense of their faith in 
Christy by the diabolical orders of the Sultan 
Hamid II, of Turkey^ and by the most cruel 
ands of Islam before the EYES OF THE 
lOLE Christian world, at the close of 

t NINETEENTH CENTURY. 

S. S. YENOVKIAN, 

I Cleveland, Ohio. 

y 21st, 1896. 

\ 



AI,I. RIGHTS RESERVED. 




002 449 418 4 



NOTICE. 

All contributions in the form of money, clothing 
or food sent to the following address, will safely reac. 

the sufiering people. ■ 

MISS CLARA BARTON, 
President and Treasurer of the American National 
Red Cross, Washington, D. C. 

On January 22, 1896, Miss Barton sailed for Tur- 
key, but authorized agents will take care of the reli^ 
sent to the above address. 



A 



